Konami to blogs: How does that work again?
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ May 9th 2006 at 7:30PM }
At this very moment, Konami is holding a mysterious press conference in the depths of LA, presumably revealing details on their flagship title, Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, as well as several new titles that will be available on the E3 show floor. Sadly, Konami decided earlier today to unceremoniously lock Joystiq out of the conference due to a heinous act that was committed yesterday. It seems that Konami is still trying to wrap their heads idea around the blogosphere, struggling to come to grips with the concept of us providing readers with information on forthcoming games. Konami requested us to remove the offending snaps of their booth on the show floor, snaps which revealed some games that were not due to be announced until, well, now most likely. Since we believe that to be an unreasonable request that will disadvantage our readers, the post will not be coming down. We apologize for not being able to provide more excellent liveblogging from their conference.We'll still be providing normal coverage of Konami's many titles on the show floor and will not let their rampant blog-o-phobia affect our writing. C'mon, how could we not be excited about more Solid Snake?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Phil @ May 9th 2006 7:56PM
Great! Because you refuse to take down pictures of card board you can't report on something actually interesting. You're heroes!
Red Steele @ May 9th 2006 7:57PM
Maybe they should changes names to konazi.
tony @ May 9th 2006 8:00PM
Good for you, Joystiq! Video game journalism is rife with people without journalistic ethics and instead pander to the industry (and their advertisers). Unlike phil, I'm not dripping with sarcasm--I'm very sincere. Keep on doing a great job.
PayTheMan @ May 9th 2006 8:01PM
Phil it's the principle behind the whole thing.
Hedgie @ May 9th 2006 8:01PM
Their weird. Since when does backstage stuff become "secret"? We all know what happens every year. Someone either uses their cameraphone or some sort of cyborg implant. You know they exist among us...
Phil @ May 9th 2006 8:09PM
Hey I'm not dissing Joystiq or anything, I visit everyday so I must like the site, but as stupid as Konami is on this issue, I really don't care about the cardboard cutout. Just posting Konami's statement makes them look dumb enough, but right now I can't find any working site that is talking about this.
Oh well
The_Predator @ May 9th 2006 8:11PM
"There so, uptight!"
Thom Yorke.
Bo @ May 9th 2006 8:20PM
If every other journalists are abiding by Konami's rule, why shouldn't you? This has to do with being fair to all the reporters.
bv @ May 9th 2006 8:23PM
when in doubt, visit ign (not a dis to joystiq, just a suggestion to the pampered commenters. Yes you phil.):
ps3 coded arms>
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/706/706451p1.html
ps3 hellboy>
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/706/706357p1.html
15 minute long new mgs4 trailer tonight>
http://ps3.ign.com/articles/706/706276p1.html
Phil @ May 9th 2006 8:28PM
The interweb is broken! Almost all game related sites (gametrailers, MGS section of konami site, etc) are totally dead.
LOL @ May 9th 2006 8:54PM
Here's the Konami presentation liveblog:
http://dev.clubskill.com/cs_lite/viewcontent.php?id=3363
Jeff @ May 9th 2006 9:15PM
"If every other journalists are abiding by Konami's rule, why shouldn't you?"
Because every journalist *isn't* abiding by Konami's "rule". Some who call themselves journalists might be, however. But there is a difference.
Journalists report what's happening. That's their job. It's not their job to follow the "rules" set down by those who its their job to be reporting on.
Imagine if the Fox News agreed not to report Dick Cheney had shot somebody in the face just so the White House could have an extra day to announce it themselves. Oh wait, that actually happened. And it was a big scandal, because it's not a journalist's job to be nice or to "follow the rules". That's what PR people do. It's a journalist's job to report the news.
retro @ May 9th 2006 9:38PM
Whoo! You're awesome, Joystiq! Ludwig Keitzmann (if that is your real name :P), there should be like a billion of you posting in gaming blogs. Stick it to the man! :P
Also, ignore the idiots who criticize a bloggers' every move, just to give himself moot points.
that guy @ May 9th 2006 10:16PM
Always liked Joystiq. I like a heck of a lot more now. Kudos you to you guys. You've made a happy reader/journalist even more happy. All the best, and I'll continue reading/supporting.
Brian @ May 9th 2006 10:51PM
Another supporter for ya'.
Once news has BROKEN, it cannot be UNBROKEN. (repaired? fixed? hmm....)
As soon as the info was leaked - and, as mentioned, you were not the only ones to do so - it was all over the 'net. Someone should explain to Konami how these things work. Throw in that getting stressed out because info was leaked fifteen hours early is bad for ones' health.
Tom Hayden @ May 10th 2006 12:04AM
Whatever, fuck em. The sweet thing about citizen media is that some will fold and some will not. The end effect is that the reader will get all sides of the story. Kudos for standing up for yourselves.
Finished.Law.School @ May 10th 2006 7:47AM
Konami sounds like a bunch of tight ass bastards.
Krimzen @ May 10th 2006 10:29AM
"Since we believe that to be an unreasonable request that will disadvantage our readers"
Yet, missing the whole Konami press conference isn't "disadvantaging" us? Pffft.... BS
Ken @ May 10th 2006 10:41AM
Some points:
1. Many gaming "journalists" are little more then PR outlets for the gaming industry. They do a diservice to their readers by simply reprocessing press releases, and avoiding writing anything that could potentially upset their sources (i.e. the gaming industry PR departments).
2. Real journalists do not rely on PR departments for their "news". Real journalists do not go out of their way to upset the companies they report on BUT also do not avoid reporting news simply because it upsets companies being covered.
3. Many gaming "journalists" are afraid to report news or reviews that might upset the companies being covered, because it might lead to them being refused entry to press conferences, after-conference parties, and cause them not to get swag after the party (you do know that PR companies give some sweet gifts to industry journalists, don't you?).
Any time a journalist stands up for their readers and reports news without letting themselves be pushed around by those being reported about is reason to applaud. Thanks, joystiq, for taking a stand on this.
K
purokogi @ May 10th 2006 10:42AM
who cares.
sev4 pri1 @ May 10th 2006 1:27PM
keep up the good work. if a project is secret they should refer to their NDA.
Bob @ May 10th 2006 2:07PM
You guys are retarded. You kept your precious picture, and now you can't see the real beef. Good job.
CakeOrDeath @ May 17th 2006 6:28AM
All the people comlaining about Joystiq. Do you really want them to become Game companies lap dogs? Maybe you could argue that the news wasnt important enough to make a stand over but at least now you can be sure of joystiqs integrity.